The Ring

[JaNell]

The Ring starts off as a typical "What The Hell Is Wrong With Kids These Days?" horror flick - and then the adults get stupid, too.

The premise is that there is a tape that, if watched, will lead to your death in 7 days...
A phone call always follows - of course - announcing "Seven Days".

Since I was watching it at a friend's, I was able to say "Don't watch the tape, you idiot!" and "Don't answer the phone, you idiot!" as often as I felt like - but they did anyway.

*sigh*

Why will people in horror flicks never listen?
Anywho.

I can say that the film itself is beautiful in places - many well placed, subtle homages to films such as Angel Heart - and the fatal tape has in interesting taste of Un Chien Andalou ("Andalusian Dog") that is disappointingly lost when the mystery is revealed, twenty minutes or so before the film ends.

The Ring seems to be suffering from a mild war between the visions of the people making it.

If you love the comfort of standard plots, it does have:
Teens!
Mysteriously Dying!
Horses! (Perhaps a fan of The Godfather worked on this?)
Bad Parents Who Leave Their Endangered Child Unattended!
Weird-Eyed Psychic Child!
Weird-Haired Psycho Child!
Charactors Who Disappear!

However, because of the indecisive nature of the film - Spooky Art Film? Standard Teen Horror Flick? - fans of both can enjoy watching it and still manage to scarf down Philly Cheese Steak sammichs from Lenny's without barfing or dozing off.

[rec|use]

the soundtrack and audio post production are brilliant in this movie

[Lost Traveler]

The production and set design are true master pieces probably the best contempory uban decay gothia around. And I dont know Ive seen J walking a couple of times people ARE stupid.

[Onibubba]

Not a bad remake. Tom Cruise has opted to remake The Eye, another outstanding Japanese ghost story. For a different kind of Japanese horror flick, check out Audition. Watch it with someone you love. That's all I'm going to say on that one.